Too Good to be True?

It's the holy grail of every person who makes and (tries to) fit garments to their own measurements - a pattern pre-generated to your own shape. So, when I stumbled upon the Bootstrap Fashions website, I knew I had to give it a try. That, and the pattern prices were very reasonable. 

I decided on two blouse designs to give it a try; a sleeveless yoke-front blouse, and a sleeveless blouse with asymmetrical ruffle. 

The pattern prints out on standard 8.5" by 11" sheets that you piece together

All the pieces put together!

They include a line drawing of what you're making, and a layout of what all the pieces look like once you tape the individual sheets together

I am using this die-for navy silk chiffon with a white bird print. Once you start using real silk, it's impossible to go back to a poly chiffon...

When you set up an account with Bootstrap fashions, you can take your body measurements, and save them to apply to any pattern you are buying. In addition, you can choose to apply some common fit adjustments like fuller bust or longer legs. If you're feeling really confident about your ability to take specific measurements for fit, you can choose a "Pro-fit" option that will allow you to manipulate the less common fitting-points of a pattern, like armhole height and bust width. You can also choose to include seam allowance for an extra 50 cents.

A view of the back with gathering at the yoke

One of the shoulders has a pleated detail.

A side-view of the pleated side

A side view, of the ruffle side

A close-up of the neckline and front.

Bootstrap fashions includes pretty detailed step-by-step construction steps, but no pictures. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend this to a beginning sewer. For example, this blouse has a button-closure front, and so the instructions (and pattern) includes a button stand. If you've never made a shirt with this kind of button closure, it can be difficult to understand from words alone.

Ta Da! All done! I didn't know really what to expect, but I think it turned out really nicely. I didn't have to worry about the bust or waist length - which are usually a nightmare to fit on my shape, especially on a button front blouse. 

The only problem I had with the fit of this blouse is in the shoulder/armseye. I chose the wider-shoulder fit option, and it turns out I really didn't need to. If I make this pattern again, I will shorten the length of the shoulder, and make the armseye a little bigger. 

And, spoiler, this was the main fit issue on the other pattern I tried. For this shirt, I used a soft denim chambray with a palm-tree print and beautiful drape:

Pattern pieced together, and cut out of fabric!

This design has a cheeky contrast underside on the yoke. It also asked that the yoke overhang be interfaced - I found this to be a little stiffer than I would have chosen.

There is a slit with a button at the back neck

Neckline finished; bottom of upper yoke finished with (hidden) contrasting fabric.

Shirt bottom attached; side seams pinned - I wanted to try it on for fit before I finished the seams.

Fit is good! Side seams done!

A peek at the contrast.

The back with the shirt bottom attached.

And the shirt all done! Like I mentioned above - I still want to go back and adjust the fit of the arms/shoulders, but the fit everywhere else was pretty good. The shirt is a little movement-restrictive along the upper bust, where the yoke seam is, but I think that's down to style, not sizing.

After these two shirts - I've not been scared off from trying more! I plan to make adjustments in how I take (and enter) measurements. 

What is really really tempting is that Bootstrap Fashions has a custom dress-dummy pattern generator, specifically for plus size ladies. I'm sure it will take more than one go (on my part), but the thought of having a custom dummy for my other costume and apparel projects...mouthwatering!